This gold colored West Coast style Double India Pale Ale has an intense hop nose, with aromas mainly of citrus. The high hop character dominates this IPA’s flavor profile. Made with American long grain rice, it is quite difficult to make but the rice contributes to this beer’s crisp aftertaste.

Reviews by tectactoe:

The first time I had this was actually on tap at the Park Bar in Detroit. It pours a golden amber color with quite a bit of haze, foamy white head that lasts for a while, at least halfway through. It was served in a translucent, plastic cup, but looking from the inside reveals that there is indeed some incredible lacing cascaded down the sides.

The nose is absolutely wonderful; juicy citrus, grapefruits, tangerines, lemon zest, herbal tea, dank hops, floral, resinous, oily, pine needles. Quite a collage of aromas that typically comprise many world-class DIPAs - masterfully done. Even though you fully expect a DIPA to be a hop-forward, aggressive beer, the actual aroma and flavor profile can vary quite a bit. This one takes the citrus-heavy, pine needle approach - probably my personal favorite, and I'll be damned if this aroma doesn't deliver the message perfectly. Juicy, pungent, and full of itself - I started getting excited about this before I had even tasted it.

Much to my contentment, the taste is no slouch, either. Nothing more depressing than a beer with a great aroma and a lacking flavor profile - certainly not the case here. The pines and hop resins are a more powerful on the palate than the nose, but it balances with the citrus sweetness very well. Oily, dank, floral, piney, grapefruit rinds, oranges, and mangoes are all present in flavor. A surge of juicy fruits and pungent, resinous oils combines atop your palate and intertwines perfectly with the aromas that are still currently sifting through your nostrils.

Some very faint pale malt is detectable at the tail end with a slight hint of bread and yeast, but the aftertaste is mainly dominated by the bitter-sweet combo of citrus and hops. I'm thinking this faint malt flavor may be from the rice component of this beer. Otherwise, I don't really get much "rice" out of this; then again, what does rice really taste like? And how would it be detectable underneath this assault of citric hops? The finish is a mesh of sweet and bitter, with a touch of dryness and an elegance that leaves me thirsty for more. Medium-thick body, very slightly sticky but not too much, perfect amount of carbonation.

Wow, this beer really surprised me the first time I had it. I had put it off for so long, and now I'm kicking myself that I didn't get it earlier. One of the best DIPAs I've had, and something that I'll always order a glass of if it's ever being served. It's literally too good to pass up; this brew could easily swap punches with the big boys.

EDIT: 1/20/2013

Had a growler filled from Kuhnhenn and enjoyed it over the course of three days. I thought maybe the first time I had this beer I was overrating it, but upon having it again, my initial thoughts were confirmed. This beer is freakin' amazing.

EDIT: 4/24/2013

I've been seeing DRIPA everywhere around town more and more, and it seems like Kuhnhenn has been carrying it non-stop. I wonder if this is turning into a "year-round" for them? If so, that's fantastic news. This stuff continues to amaze me. I can't stop in at Kuhnhenn without getting a growler or at LEAST a pint of this stuff. (3,140 characters)

T - The aroma translates to the taste, tropical fruit galore, sweet malt, but the citrus hops come on stronger at the end with some nice grapefruit bitterness.

M - Fairly thin for such a high gravity DIPA. I'd like a bit more carbonation since it is lighter bodied. Is it possible for a 9.5% beer to be refreshing?

O - Not the most attractive beer, but an amazing aroma and flavor. When I saw it was a rice beer...I almost didn't even give it a try, so glad I did. This is a great beer and talk about making great use of rice. (723 characters)